Alzheimer's Society
Dementia Support Line
0333 150 3456Advice from trained advisers, for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Welsh language line: 03300 947 400.
About the support lineDementia support: Where to get help
Whether you are worried about your memory, have just been diagnosed or care for someone with dementia, help is available. This page lists national helplines and the support you can get from the NHS and your local council.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Arpita Chakrabarti (GMC 5180513) and Dr Rohit Renjhen (GMC 5209302), consultant old age psychiatrists. Last reviewed 6th October 2026. Next review 6th October 2027.
Key points
- National helplines offer advice from trained advisers and specialist dementia nurses.
- Your local council can assess what help you need, and carers can ask for their own assessment.
- After a diagnosis, NHS advice is to plan ahead early, for example by making a lasting power of attorney.
- You do not need a diagnosis to call a helpline or ask the council for a needs assessment.
National dementia helplines
These helplines are run by charities, not by us. Opening times are on each organisation's website.
Dementia UK
Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline
0800 888 6678Advice from Admiral Nurses, who are specialist dementia nurses. You can also email helpline@dementiauk.org.
About the helplineAlzheimer Scotland
Freephone Dementia Helpline
0808 808 3000Open 24 hours, for anyone affected by dementia.
About the helplineAge UK
Age UK Advice Line
0800 678 1602Advice for older people and their families, open every day.
About the advice lineCarers UK
Carers UK Helpline
0808 808 7777Information and advice for unpaid carers, including on benefits and carer's assessments.
About the helplineSupport after a diagnosis
After a diagnosis of dementia, you should have a care plan that sets out the support you need and how to get it. NHS guidance says it should be reviewed at least once a year. Your GP or memory service can tell you what is available locally.
If you are diagnosed with us, you receive a written report with your diagnosis and care plan. With your consent, we send it to your GP.
What happens at an assessmentHelp from your local council
A needs assessment
If you need help with everyday tasks, you can ask the council for a care and support needs assessment. It is free and anyone can ask for one. Someone from the council, such as a social worker or occupational therapist, looks at what help you need. If you need help, a financial assessment then works out whether the council will pay towards it.
A carer's assessment
If you look after someone, you can ask the council for a carer's assessment of your own needs. Anyone over 18 can ask for one, and it is free.
This is how it works in England. The process differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Your council, or your health and social care trust in Northern Ireland, can explain what is available.
Benefits
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs for people over State Pension age who need someone to help look after them because of a disability or health condition. People under State Pension age may be able to get Personal Independence Payment, and carers may be able to claim Carer's Allowance.
In Scotland, Social Security Scotland runs its own payments, such as Pension Age Disability Payment in place of Attendance Allowance. The helplines above can help you check what you may be able to claim.
Planning ahead
NHS advice after a diagnosis includes making or updating a will while you are able to, and choosing someone to have lasting power of attorney.
A lasting power of attorney lets you appoint people to make decisions for you, or to help you make them. There are two types, one for health and welfare and one for property and financial affairs. You must have mental capacity when you make one, and it must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. It applies in England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own systems.
If you drive, you must tell the DVLA (or the DVA in Northern Ireland) and your car insurer about the diagnosis.
If a solicitor needs an independent view of someone's capacity, for example for a will or a lasting power of attorney, we carry out capacity assessments.
Mental capacity assessmentsQuestions about dementia support
Where can I get dementia support?
National helplines can help, such as Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 and Dementia UK's Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678. Your GP, memory service or local council can also tell you what support is available near you.
Is there support for carers?
Yes. Carers can ask the council for a free carer's assessment, and Carers UK runs a helpline for unpaid carers on 0808 808 7777. Carers may also be able to claim Carer's Allowance.
Do I need a diagnosis to get support?
No. You can call a helpline or ask the council for a needs assessment without one. A diagnosis can still help you get the right treatment and plan ahead.
Does The Dementia Service provide care?
No. We provide dementia assessment and diagnosis, genetic testing and capacity assessments, and old age psychiatry for care providers. For care and day-to-day support, the organisations on this page can help.
Sources
- NHS: Help and support for people with dementiaLast reviewed 19th September 2024
- NHS: What to do if you've just been diagnosed with dementiaLast reviewed 24th July 2023
- NHS: Getting a care needs assessmentLast reviewed 22nd August 2024
- NHS: Carer's assessmentsLast reviewed 1st July 2022
- GOV.UK: Attendance AllowanceLast updated 21st October 2024
- GOV.UK: Make, register or end a lasting power of attorneyLast updated 3rd December 2024
- mygov.scot: Pension Age Disability PaymentChecked 29th September 2026
Helpline details were checked on each organisation's website on 29th September 2026.
Talk to us
Call us to ask a question or book an assessment. You do not need a GP referral, and your first appointment is available the same week.
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